Life is all about choices and attitude. Make the right choices, keep a positive attitude-- and you will find JOY through all of your ups and downs. Hope you enjoy my thoughts!

HEADER INFORMATION

My JOYFUL REFLECTIONS header picture is a picture taken on 10/20/16 on our visit to the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. I had never seen so many different colors of Poinsettias before... These HOT Pink ones were gorgeous.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Our Yard ---Then and Now

2006

Most of you know how much George and I LOVE yardwork. When we bought our home in 2002, the yard was basically bare (except for grass and some shrubs)--and there were only a few container flowers sitting around in front. We moved into the house permanently in the summer of 2003 --but George worked fulltime until 2006... SO --most of the major improvements in our yard took place after 2006. Since that time, we have worked hard (George --much more than I)---and it's fun to look at the 'then and now' photos....

Today, I will share some of the 'then and now' photos I have found... Be sure to click on all of the photos for enlargements. Above is our front yard as it looked in 2006. We did have our 3 round flowerbeds built before 2006. You can see two of them in this photo--but no ROSES yet!!!!

2012

This is what our yard looks like today from a similar angle. (Picture taken on Monday, 6/4/12); Doesn't look like the same yard, does it? (See George there using the edger?)

2006

Here's another picture taken from 2006. We did have our flagpole up by then... And we had done quite a bit of work on the two rock beds and our sidewalk... But --the yard basically still looked bare!

2010

This picture was taken in 2010 ... Can you see some differences????? ha... Lots of work was accomplished between 2008 and now.... YEAH!!

2012

This picture was taken on Sunday, June 10, 2012... Compare it with the two above!!!! Unbelievable!

2008

Here is a picture of our Ivy/Periwinkle side (upper side) of the yard, taken in 2008... It started out as a rock garden with Autumn Joy Sedum, Siberian Iris, Daffodils and Hosta.... Then we started planting some Ivy --and Periwinkle to have a ground cover along that entire area.... See the next picture for what it looks like today.

2012

And here is what that area looks like today!!! Quite a change, don't you think? Note that the tree trunk/stump is now gone... We still have Autumn Joy Sedum, Siberian Iris and Hosta in that bed ---but the Ivy and Periwinkle have really expanded in two years. We wanted an area with groundcover (especially in areas which are hard to mow) ---so this has worked out perfectly. (Picture taken on June 4, 2012) NOTE: The lighter green ivy is the new ivy growing now... It has really taken off this year!

2009

This picture was taken in 2009... Many of you will remember when George built our 'Road Flowerbed'.... He built it because that was the only really sunny area left in our yard... In that bed, he planted more Rose Bushes, Irises, Lilies and Daylilies...

2010

Here is what that bed looked like in 2010. Things were beginning to GROW.....

2012

AND---finally, here's that flowerbed in 2012. (Picture taken on June 4, 2012); OH---the joys of gardening!!!!! YES--it's alot of work, but we love it...

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the 'then and now' pictures of our evolving yard!!!!!

Have a wonderful day ---and get outside and play in the dirt... It's just downright healthy and joyful!!!!

It's hard to imagine the difference, it really is such a transformation, reminding me of a lot of English gardens where we tend to plant flowers in every square inch :)It looks so beautiful, and well- done for all the hard work it took to accomplish.~Jo

Nothing tells the story better than some good then/now pictures. What an amazing job you all have done. Since you travel so much, who in the world takes care of all this when you are away?

Wanted to thank you for your very kind words about my blog. It really is a a reflection of my "life" as it is on that particular day and I never dreamed I'd love writing it as much as I do. It is always nice when others enjoy it and take the the time to say so!

Really amazing what both of you did in your garden. Right now, me and my husband barely had the time gardening. but maybe when we retire too. So for now, I just have to close my eyes when the weeds are too much for me. hi hi

Wow, such a radical transformation, Betsy! It is truly lovely. And while it looks magical, I know it was plain ol' back-breaking, dirt-under-the-fingernails work that brought this beauty about. Kudos to you and George for your vision and hard work!

The difference between what was and what is - is truly amazing! So glad for you that you enjoy this labor of love and that you are healthy enough to keep at it. It's a gift of eye candy for the whole neighborhood! Not a gift given to everyone! Be blessed and have a great week! Thanks for sharing your precious photos!

Holy cow! I'm thinking you started with better than I even have today. My green thumb comes thru my Mom (when she visits in the summer) and I just try to keep stuff alive. I'd rather be out playing than doing yardwork - go figure. BTW the name is Sherry! :)

The two of you have created such a beautiful, wonderful home/yard/garden and your photos are delightful! I love the colors and the rich green! Lots of work, but what wonderful results! Hope you have have beautiful week, Betsy! Enjoy1

All of yours and George's hard work has been worth it...the flowers and ground covers are a beautiful addition to your already lovely home!I won't be outside much today, it's been raining a bit...yay!!. I'll be grocery shopping later on. That's not nearly as much fun! Have a great day!

WOW, Betsy, I have loved this!!! I have always said that I would love to come to your yard and just walk around, look and snap! It is like a small Botanical Garden. Your could charge money, ha ha! The most amazing change to me is the ground cover pictures, they are am amazing change, and took the longest! Also #3 & 4. You are so lucky that you have the before pictures!!! I have wanted to show before and after things, like our kitchen renovation, but had no before pictures.

The before and after photos are very good at showing us how y'all have improved your yard with hard work and love of flowers. You show that each of you are true gardener because to plant is to believe in tomorrow. I love the term "play in the dirt" and use it quite often. Peace

What a transformation! I understand that joy of digging in the dirt so well! We had a huge amount of flowerbeds at our former place and it was fun to create and see the resulting beauty. But we're glad to have a much smaller place now and something more manageable for us as we get older.

I can't imagine all the hours you guys have in your yard. It sure is beautiful. I have never liked yard work...it just doesn't appeal to me but I sure enjoy seeing the results of someone who has a pretty yard.

Hi Betsy, Congratulations on a truly fabulous yard and floral garden! One day, we will landscape this little farm. Everything is totally new here as the house was plopped down into what was a cow pasture nearly two years ago. So, we have a vegetable patch and a small fruit orchard of dwarf trees and a tiny grape planting. Have a super good day tomorrow & watch the weather for T storms tonight.

Wow! Remarkable job done, Betsy and George... Congrats for come up with an enhancing work on the yard! Even the early setting was neat and pretty, the flowers had crown the beautiful yards. Thanks for coming up with the difference stages on them.

What a joy it must be each day to awaken to all that beauty. George has really put his retirement to wonderful use. I really need to get busy with my periwinkle plans. Love how yours has taken over that hard to mow spot.

Gosh Betsy, never thought to take before and after photos of our flower beds...darn! Your house looks much better now that you have added your gardening touches :) George, AND you did a tremendous job and about that ol' tree stump. I kind of liked it with the planter on top :)

I like that you replaced a lot of the grass with flower beds and more natural ground covers, Betsy. They all add so much more beauty to your yard. Gardening is a wonderful hobby to enjoy that keeps on giving joy!

Seriously....your yard was picture perfect at the beginning....and now? GORGEOUS! Love all the flowers; the pretty colors.I know I've said this a hundred times; YOU must be the envy of all your neighbors.xoxoxo

Oh, Betsy! What a glorious joy your yard is! All that hard work has certainly paid off and made it a little piece of heaven! Loved seeing the before and after photos! (You probably were horrified by my bare rock and dirt front yard when I sent you that photo!--:-) ) Oh, well, we've been here not quite a year.,...that's my excuse! :-)

You can tell this yard is a real labor of love. Glad you've got a lot of "then" photos to show what things used to look like. Are you quite challenged by the slope of the yard? And, do the neighbors enjoy the yard as much as you? What a great accomplishment.

You two know what you like best, and your garden shows your diligence and hard work. It looks so prim and proper though, very well trimmed and organized. I want to call the rose garden as the 'physicist's garden' because the brick pile is so very organized as if an equation is used in making it, haha! Tell this to George, i wonder what he says!